Igor Ozhigov, a defenseman for SKA Saint Petersburg, sustained an injury during the third game of the Western Conference semifinal in the Kontinental Hockey League when facing Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. The skirmish unfolded late in the third period after a collision with an opponent, and a separate incident saw teammate Damir Zhafyarov strike his own teammate with his skate, catching him in the face with the blade. At the moment of impact, the team’s forward was positioned with his back to the receiver of the blow.
Ozhigov sustained a cut across the bridge of his nose. Medical staff immediately attended to him, administering aid on the bench. The full extent of the injury has not been disclosed by team officials or league doctors, leaving the prognosis uncertain at that time.
Video footage of the event circulated on the Hockey without an Audience Telegram channel, offering a close look at the incident and the immediate response from the medical crew. The league typically reviews on-ice actions in such episodes as part of its incident protocol, and both clubs were focused on the implications for player health and lineup readiness.
The game took place on March 20 in Nizhny Novgorod, with SKA defeating Torpedo by four goals to nil. The win gave SKA a chance to close the series in the next meeting and advance to the Western Conference finals, provided they secure the required victory in the upcoming game. Close attention from fans and analysts centered on how the team would adapt to the potential loss of Ozhigov for any further playoff action and how the defensive unit would respond to the disruption caused by the on-ice incident.
Within North American circles, a separate report noted that Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who plays for the Washington Capitals, was sidelined for several days due to an upper-body injury sustained against the Minnesota Wild during an NHL regular-season matchup. The development drew attention to the broader picture of player health across major leagues and the ongoing impact of injuries on team depth and performance, a topic frequently explored by analysts and fans alike.